I hawked in Ogoja streets at age 11 – Stella Ukwueze
STELLA UKWUEZE, fast-rising actress, scriptwriter, and movie producer speaks with ETIM EKPIMAH and JOHNNY DIAKPOMRERE on her career and early life
Can we know you? I am Stella Ukwueze. I was born in Ogoja, northern Cross River State, though my state of origin is Imo. I am from Umuodu Awaka in the Owerri North Local Government Area of the state.
What was your early life like? I am from a family of six and the first child of my parents. I’m 34 years old. I have two brothers and a sister. I had my primary education at City Kids Nursery and Primary School; secondary education at Holy Child Secondary School (Mount Carmel) in Ogoli, Ogoja, Cross River State. I later got admission to study Mass Communication at the Institute of Management and Technology, IMT, Enugu. I rounded up my Higher National Diploma, HND programme in 2010. It was not until 2012 that I went for my one-year compulsory National Youth Service in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.
Were you bullied while in school? I had one or two experiences with bullying. I guess I was bold enough to stand up to them. Boy issues, to me, were normal. Surely, they would always make a move, it’s up to me to say ‘yes’ or ‘no’ and stay clear of anyone that seemed to be a problem.
What were the challenges you faced while growing up? My family wasn’t rich or poor; my parents did their best to provide for us, my dad especially, but my mom had a different idea about my upbringing. She felt I needed to make money too. As a result, she made me hawk things in the streets of Ogoja. I started hawking when I was 11 years old and it continued for years.
What is your advice to those youths who want to get rich overnight? Inasmuch as I know that poverty is a terrible situation, I would never support an act where someone had to do something really bad to get off a bad situation. So, I will say to them, stay true to yourself, keep your hands clean, pick up an honest job and with consistency, hard work and God by your side you will surely have a better tomorrow.
You studied Mass Communication in a higher institution, what motivated you to go into acting instead of journalism? Yes, I’ve always wanted to become an actor; I admired them, both at home and abroad. At some point, I think I had a retentive memory; once I watched a movie, I could easily recite its lines. Sometimes I act it out before friends or in front of a mirror. Also, I began writing scripts of my own, even before I got admission into IMT.
Who is your role model? Genevieve Nnaji. I love her acts and her simplicity
How did you get into the industry? After I was done with my NYSC, I went to Lagos and worked for two to three years, then quit and focused on my script writing then. I met a movie director on Facebook, he was in Asaba and it happened that he was about to shoot a movie in less than three weeks; so, he promised to give me a role but asked me to come over there.
Did any producer demand sex to assign you a role in the early stage of your career? Yes, I know that happens in the industry. But I knew what I wanted and I was ready to pursue it on my terms. I had some money saved to produce my own movies, so I wasn’t going to let anyone bully or pressure me to do anything stupid.
Which year did you join the industry? 2017.
Are you into any relationship? No.
What is your net worth? Well, I’m not super rich, it’s still a work in progress for me, but I do think I have a positive net worth.
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